Context

In 1977 Apple Computer was incorporated. President Ford pardoned Tokyo Rose before he was succeeded by Jimmy Carter. Snow fell in Miami, Florida for the only time in recorded history. Roots aired on ABC. The New Zealand and Australian parliaments were established. The Toronto Blue Jays debuted. Star Wars opened in cinemas. James Earl Ray briefly escaped prison in Tennessee. Spain held its first democratic elections in decades. New York City experienced a 25-hour blackout. The Yankees won the World Series, helped by Reggie Jackson's 3 home runs in the final game. Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd died in a plane crash. Ram Jam scored a hit with their remake of Leadbelly's "Black Betty"

Top-grossing films were Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Rescuers, Saturday Night Fever, The Goodbye Girl, Oh, God!, The Deep, Smokey and the Bandit, The Spy Who Loved Me and Semi-Tough. Annie Hall swept the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress.